Governor Gretchen Whitmer will deliver her final State of the State address on Wednesday night, focusing on early literacy, affordable housing, and protecting health care.

The Michigan Senate approved Senate Bill 495 and House Bill 4141, aiming to limit student cell phone use during instructional time in schools.

A group of Michigan state senators, along with parents and social media safety advocates, is backing a package of bills aimed at limiting what they say are data-hungry and potentially addictive features on platforms popular with minors.

Michigan will ditch a system that gave A-through-F grades to public schools each year after state education officials called the system overly simplistic and a duplicate of federal requirements.

Beagles rescued from a research breeding facility were visited by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel at the Humane Society of Huron Valley (HSHV) on Tuesday.

Morning 4 is a quick roundup of stories we think you should know about to start your day.

Michigan State Senator Dayne Polehanki knows a thing or two about what it’s like to run a classroom.

Wayne County senators have sent a letter to the county’s health director requesting an emergency health order to require masks be worn by staff and students in all public schools.

Republicans who control Michigan’s Senate have begun approving a $66.4 billion budget that would spend 5% more than in the current year, thanks to an influx of federal funding, but about $728 million less than what is proposed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

FILE - In this Jan. 6, 2021, file photo, armed men stand on the steps at the State Capitol after a rally in support of President Donald Trump in Lansing, Mich. But the question of whether guns should be allowed in capitol buildings remains political and states are going in opposite directions. – In the past year, insurrectionists have breached the U.S. Capitol and armed protesters have forced their way into statehouses around the country. But the question of whether guns should be allowed in capitol buildings remains political, and states are going in opposite directions. “What they said is that weapons, guns, bullets are still welcome in our state Capitol as long as we can’t see them.

LANSING, Mich. – Calls for discipline have grown over the weekend after state Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey was caught in two controversial hot mic conversations. He said he regretted the words he chose and apologized for his “insensitive comments.”AdThe next day on the Michigan Senate floor, Shirkey told Lt. Gov. READ: How Michigan played a role in Donald Trump’s 2nd impeachmentThe pressure to discipline Shirkey even extended to the U.S. Senate. Ad“It’s outrageous that you have, yet again, another Republican leader engaging in conspiracy theories and lies,” Peters said. Apparently, the leader of the state Senate in Michigan now wants to tell an even bigger lie.”Michigan Republican Speaker of the House Jason Wentworth released a statement of his own, distancing himself from Shirkey.

LANSING, Mich. – Enough senators have cast “not guilty” votes Saturday to acquit Donald Trump of inciting the deadly Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Protest moves inside Michigan Capitol. Lots of Michigan State Police and House sergeants at arms blocking door. pic.twitter.com/4FNQpimP4W — Rod Meloni (@RodMeloni) April 30, 2020“The Michigan State House was effectively a state-level dress rehearsal for the seizure of the U.S. Capitol,” said Rep. Jamie Raskin. Livonia Sen. Dayna Polehanki’s photo of armed men in the Michigan State Senate Gallery is now official record of American history.

LANSING, Mich. – Concerns at the Michigan Capitol Building in Lansing are on the rise amid chatter of widespread protests in the days leading up to President-Elect Joe Biden’s Inauguration on Jan. 20. Under the recommendation of Michigan State Police, a six-foot tall fence around the Michigan Capitol Building in Lansing will be completed Friday to guard against the possibility of violence. On Monday, the Michigan State Capitol Commission unanimously voted to ban the open carry of guns from inside the Michigan Capitol. Michigan State Police circled the Capitol Building in Lansing in large numbers -- on foot and on bikes -- ahead of the fence going up Friday. Additionally, Michigan’s State Capitol Commission voted to ban open carry of firearms at the Capitol on Monday.

The Michigan Capitol Building opened for the first time Wednesday. Democratic members of the Senate decried the deadly siege on the U.S. Capitol Building that left five dead. Newly ensconsed House Speaker Jason Wentworth said working to restore trust in politicians starts with adjusting the Lame Duck Sessions. Another House Bill proposed prohibits legislators from voting on a bill that would personally enrich them or their families. Additionally, Michigan’s State Capitol Commission voted to ban open carry of firearms at the Capitol on Monday.

(Photo by Seth Herald/Getty Images)The Michigan State Capitol Commission unanimously voted Monday to ban the open carry of guns from inside the Michigan Capitol, effective immediately. “After months of delay the Michigan State Capitol Commission finally put their authority to use and voted in favor of banning the open-carry of firearms inside the State Capitol. Those with concealed weapon permits are still allowed to carry firearms (concealed) into the State Capitol. The Michigan State Capitol Commission must take the next step and ban ALL firearms inside the State Capitol.”Gov. Today’s actions are simply not enough to do that.”Read more: Should guns be allowed in Michigan Capitol building?

In Michigan, concealed and open carry firearms are allowed in the Capitol, but signs have been banned since 2012 after right-to-work protesters came to the Capitol. The Michigan State Capitol Commission, which is responsible for overseeing the Capitol and ultimately for making a decision on the future of firearms, has pushed back on accepting the responsibility and its leadership maintains its role should be limited. Sen. Dayna Polehanki (D-Livonia) has released the following statement in advance of the Michigan Capitol Commission’s scheduled meeting Monday afternoon to discuss implementing a ban on the open carry of firearms in the Capitol Building:”Let me make this clear: The Capitol Commission’s proposal to ban open carry from the people’s building does not ban bullets. Polehanki posted this viral tweet from inside the Michigan Capitol building in April:Directly above me, men with rifles yelling at us. Without a significant change in policy, lives will continue to be put at risk by domestic terrorists carrying weapons.”Read more: Should guns be allowed in Michigan Capitol building?